BOSTON — An eerie pall was cast over the mostly empty streets of Boston this afternoon.

Outside the closed U.S. District Court, a few television satellite trucks and several reporters waited, likely in vain, for the arrest and arraignment of a suspect in the Boston marathon bombing. With a storm approaching, an American flag whipped at half mast.

It was a sharp contrast from Wednesday, when scores of reporters and photographers stood shoulder-to-shoulder outside the courthouse after a media report that an arrest was imminent.

“It’s so empty,” said Michael Rega, 53, of Scituate, an equity analyst, who was among people who were walking nearby.

Restaurants, retail stores and other shops were closed and dark inside. Sirens were heard in the distance.

“As my wife said this morning, I guess it wasn’t safe to go to Boston all week,” Rega said.

“My thoughts and prayers are with those who are suffering because of this.”.

Andrew Klein of Boston, a painter and artist, described the mood in the city as somber and sad.

Klein said it reminded him of Israel, where he was a teacher between 1968 and 1978, and suicide bombings were not unusual.

“It’s kind of gloomy and depressing, the whole thing,” Klein said, as he walked his dog Sophie, a Daschund.

Andrew Klein, an artist in Boston, standing outside U.S. District CourtThe Republican photo by Dan Ring

“It’s hard to describe. We’ve never had anything like this in the city of Boston since 1770 or so.”

Michael Aquino, 36, of Dracut, who is an accountant, said he arrived in Boston early and saw police stop a pickup truck and another vehicle outside the Federal Reserve in the city’s downtown. Police pulled over any vehicle that looked suspicious, he said.

“I’ve never seen so many armored personnel around. Overall, the feeling is unsettling,” Aquino said. “It’s been a really rough week coming in and continuing with the work. Responsibilities always seemed to come up.”

Aquino said the bombings and death of an MIT police officer were horrific.

“From beginning to end, it’s been a lot to process. “It’s been very emotional. A constant stream of information. You get saturated.”

Brett Hart, 24, of Boston, and McLean Beyor, 25, of New York, both sales representatives, were walking outside the courthouse, while police officers, off their motorcyles, stood on corners near the federal building.

“Definitely somber,” said Hart, describing the atmosphere in the city. “Everybody is taking the right precautions.”

He said he was hopeful that the bombing suspects are not connected to a grand terror plot.

“Is it tied to anything bigger?” asked Beyor. “It’s affecting other cities. Is it over?”